Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment. When these plants are put in gardens they often spread quickly via seeds or plant fragments that produce new plants. This is especially a problem for people living close to open areas. Once the invasive species enter open areas their populations often explode, taking up precious natural and financial resources.
Invasive species crowd out native vegetation wiping out native plants and destroying the ecological habit of wildlife. Their unbalanced growth can clog up waterways and lead to increased flooding. They often become serious fire hazards. Both flooding and fires are examples of the financial resource expense caused by these species.
So how do you know if you have an invasive plant on or around your property? One of the most popular handouts in the Ventura County UCCE office is the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) brochure, Don’t plant a pest!. This full color brochure provides background information, photos of common invasive species, and provides examples of substitution that are friendlier to our local ecosystems. All this and much more, including instructions on safely removing invasive plants, can be found on Cal-IPC’s website.
More information about invasive species in our area can be found by checking out UCCE San Diego Carl E. Bell's webpage . He is UC's Regional Advisor - Invasive Plants, serving San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Mr. Bell was a collaborator on the Don't plant a pest! brochure. Additional publications can be found on his site.